The parts people play in their various social groups. Accompanied by expectations that we and others have, of what behaviour is acceptable for the role.

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What is an experiment that tests conformity to social roles?

Zimbardo's Stanford Prison Experiment (SPE)

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What was the procedure of the SPE?

Male students were recruited to be prisoner or guard and randomly allocated . All participants were give role based uniforms.

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SPE results

Prisoners initially resisted and but eventually became more passive whilst guards became more sadistic . Ended after 6 days instead of 14 due to prisoner distress.

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SPE strenghts

Realism (prisoners arrested and tried). Good control of variables (controlled experiment)

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SPE limitations

Can't be generalised (artificial environment). Ethics (physical and psychological harm). Observer bias (Zimbardo allocated himself the role of warden)

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Who studied obedience to authority?

Milgram's electric shock experiment (1963)

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Milgram's procedure

40 male participants were introduced to a confederate and then had to choose their role (always given teacher). Then had to ask learner questions to and give electric shocks if answered wrong (shocks went from 15-450v (lethal))

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Milgram's findings

65% of ppts went to 450v. 100% went to 300v and 35% stopped between 300 and 450. All ppts showed signs of stress e.g. sweating

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Milgram strengths

Lab experiment (good control of variables). Debriefing afterwards (participants reintroduced to confederate) Replicable (the game of death tv show)

A mental state where we take no responsibility for our actions, as we believe we are working as an agent of an authority figure.

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What is the autonomous state?

A state where we act based on our own beliefs/principles and are more likely to take responsibility for our actions

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What is the agentic shift?

The process of going from autonomous state to agentic state or vice versa

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Who came up with the authoritarian personality?

Adorno 1950

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What is the authoritarian personality?

When a child has been socialised to obey authority, due to strict parenting. Can create aggression, specifically to minority groups. Based on Adorno's F-scale to see if there were characteristics of the nazis who carried out the holocaust.

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Authoritarian personality evaluation

Milgram found people who scored higher on the f-scale would give higher shocks. Not necessarily due to upbringing- could be education. Doesn't explain how whole societies obey - not everyone has the characteristic.

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How can people be more likely to resist social influence?

If they have social support, e.g. other people who agree with their point of view.

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What are the types of locus of control (loc)?

Internal loc and external loc. Internal = believes what happens to them is caused by them and generally take responsibility for their own actions. External = believes what happens to the is down to luck, generally don't take responsibility

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What is social change?

When societies, instead of individuals, change their beliefs, attitudes and ways of doing things. E.g. the earth is round and women's rights.

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What is minority influence?

When an individual or minority group manage to alter the views of the majority. Can lead to social change.

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What 3 factors ensure minority influence to be successful?

Consistency (keeping the same belief/idea over time). Commitment (showing strong commitment, e.g dying for the cause). Compromise (being willing to show flexibility and accept a compromise)